The availability of a pathologist on-site during usual business hours (8 am to4:30 pm Monday through Friday). Pathologist may also work during non-business hours as indicated to complete case load or provide on call coverage (post 4:30 pm, weekends and holidays as scheduled).Be available for all scheduled frozen sections and have them completed within a 20 minute time frame. Be available for scheduled radiologic biopsies, to provide consultation and assistance (if needed) to the Cytotechnologist.
Read surgical and cytopathology slides, to provide 2 working day turn-around time for routine surgical pathology reports. Enter diagnoses into VISTA computer system and enter appropriate SNOMED and CPT codes as cases are completed. Upon request by medical or surgical staff, be readily available to discuss case histories and diagnoses. Provide 10% peer review of surgical pathology cases. This is a mandatory VHA requirement (1106.1). Appropriately notate (in the patient report) and communicate case materials to be sent for consultation to VA or non-VA facilities as needed or required for external consultation or Quality Assurance review. Provide a “second signature” (second pathologist review) and provider notification for all initial diagnoses of neoplasm’s and other, unexpected diagnoses (VHA and CAP Requirement). This information is to be noted in the patient’s report. Autopsy reports should be submitted within the established turnaround times (24 hours for the preliminary and 30 days for the final). Gross-in surgical specimens of varying complexity. Prepare and present case materials for the Tumor Board (two times a month) as requested by Surgical Service. This can include receiving case material from VA or non-VA facilities, photographing slides and/or preparing other forms of presentations of cases to be discussed. Duties in Clinical Pathology: Answer questions and provide clinical guidance to both staff and medical technologists regarding changes in tests, critical value limits, or changes in blood products, etc. Review peripheral smears, where such smears meet the criteria for pathologist review. Contact physician or nurse practitioner if appropriate. Deal with physician complaints regarding testing (find if there really is a problem and if so, work on finding a solution, provide feedback, etc.)Evaluate and approve/disapprove requests for various expensive send-out tests. Provide consultation and oversight of Blood Bank
